Suzanne Kelley, president and CEO of the Waukesha County Business Alliance and spokesperson for the I-94 East-West Econ Connect coalition, today issued the following statement regarding the transportation funding proposal released by State Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) and the Assembly Republicans:
“The plan is a solid starting point for moving the conversation forward on the larger transportation challenges facing the state, including enumeration of the much needed I-94 East-West reconstruction project. We applaud the leadership Rep. Kooyenga has shown on this effort, as well as his recognition that safe, efficient and quality infrastructure is an important economic development and jobs issue for Wisconsin.
“It is important to keep the East-West rebuild moving forward to protect the $20 million the state has already invested in preliminary design and engineering work for the project, avoid spending $40 million on a resurfacing that won’t solve the freeway’s many problems, and protect the state’s $2 billion investment in the Marquette and Zoo interchange projects. Our coalition pledges to work with Rep. Kooyenga, members of the Legislature and Gov. Scott Walker to advance a long-term transportation funding solution that keeps the East-West on track and ensures a safe and reliable infrastructure system throughout the whole state.”